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Protest outside Dáil over Ireland's growing housing crisis

Kevin Sharkey
BBC News NI Dublin Reporter
BBC A crowd of people have gathered in the street. Some are waving Irish flags, while others are holding flags belonging to several different unions. BBC
The Dáil motion on housing has been drawn up by the opposition

A major protest has taken place outside the Dáil (lower house of the Irish parliament) over the Republic of Ireland's growing housing crisis.

The Raise the Roof protest was coordinated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which has described the crisis as "the greatest political failure of our time".

The rally on Tuesday evening coincided with a Dáil debate on the issue.

"Workers are being priced out of homes or can only rent or purchase with considerable financial burden," said Ethel Buckley, SIPTU deputy general secretary.

"Alongside the human cost of this, we are seeing the serious knock-on effects, with thousands of unfilled vacancies in key sectors, and young people once again choosing to emigrate.

"What is needed now is a radical reset with sustained action to deliver secure, affordable housing."

Madeline has long dark hair and glasses. She is wearing a grey top and has a bag strap across her torso. Frances is wearing a green cap, a long blue striped scarf and a blue checked shirt. Ash has fair hair brushed in a side parting. He is wearing a grey tee-shirt and his arms are folded. Romane has shoulder-length blonde hair and is wearing a purple top.
Madeline Schmidt. Frances Gallican, Ash McCartan and Romane Glas attended the protest outside the Dáil

Renting

The growing housing crisis across the country has left the government walking a tightrope between the interests of tenants, landlords and developers.

The number of people who are now living in rented accommodation goes to the heart of the current crisis.

Renting is the only option for many people, especially young people, who cannot afford to buy their own home because of the cost of domestic properties.

Rental rates now average more than €2,000 (£1,700) a month nationally, according to a recent report by the property website Daft.ie, and are higher in Dublin.

The government has been trying to introduce measures aimed at restricting rent price increases while also encouraging developers and investors to come into the building market.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin says the government wants to introduce proposals which will "dramatically increase the supply of housing and apartments to the country, to get from 30,000 to 50,000 per annum for a sustained period of time".

But, the opposition, led by Sinn Féin, has consistently accused the government of failing to take the correct action to address the crisis.

'Really hard to get by'

A young man with reddish-brown hair and a beard. He is wearing sunglasses and a green sports top. He is standing on a street with other protestors behind him.
Damien, who is originally from Co. Tyrone, says the majority of his salary goes on rent

Damien moved to Dublin a few years ago from County Tyrone and was at today's protest.

The 27-year-old said he has, "no hope of ever owning a home of my own in Dublin".

"I am paying the majority of my salary every month on rent, it leaves me with a thousand euros".

"It leaves it really hard to get by", he added.

A young man with brown hair pulled back off his face. He is wearing black framed glasses, a dark jumper and has some facial hair.
Liam had to commute from Trim every day while at college in Dublin

Liam is 22-years-old and has just finished college, he still lives at home with his Mum.

While studying he commuted daily from the Trim, "it was a draining journey to college every day, the commute was two to three hours every day", he added.

He said he knows people who dropped out of his course because "it was so draining".

He made the choice to commute because of the "mad money" required to rent in Dublin.

James has light brown curly hair and is wearing glasses. There are protesters on the road behind him.
James Hickey doesn't think he will ever be able to afford a mortgage

James Hickey, who is 26, said he was living with his partner in a house in Dublin.

He added: "I am sharing with four other people and I'm paying about €600 (£515) per month.

"I share with people I don't know. I can't afford to just live with just my partner.

"I'm very pessimistic, I foresee myself renting privately probably for my whole life

"I don't think I'll ever be able to afford a mortgage just the way things are going."

Getty Images Eoin Ó Broin is wearing black glasses and a dark jacket. he's outside but the background out of focus. Getty Images
Eoin Ó Broin TD says there needs to be "an emergency response" to the housing problems

Ahead of Tuesday's protest outside the Dáil, the opposition characterised the situation as "an emergency".

Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, says opposition parties have joined together to introduce a motion in the Dáil "to tell the government very clearly that we need an emergency response to the housing emergency they have created".

"It means taking action to protect renters - not what we have seen from the government in terms of the hollowing-out of rent pressure zones, but actually banning rent increases for all renters as well as supports to reduce the cost of rent," he said.

Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ) are designated areas of the country where rent increases are capped to protect the interests of tenants.

The Dáil motion on the issue has been drawn up by the combined opposition of Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, Labour, People Before Profit, the Green Party and members of the progressive independents technical group.

As well as trade unions, the Raise the Roof campaign is also backed by housing and homeless agencies, women's groups, political parties, representatives of older people, Traveller groups, children's advocacy groups, community organisations and student unions.